Well, FUCK. (edit: well, GREAT!)

[dslartoo]

Well, that's nice. I took my '98 Mustang in to the shop on Saturday to see if they could repair the odometer (which has mysteriously stopped working). The techs advised that the instrument cluster itself was at fault, and that it would have to be completely replaced (they quoted me a price of $450 for the part alone, which was fun). The problem? They've been checking around all day and Ford no longer makes, supports, or offers that part for the '98 Mustang. I am pretty much out of luck unless I can find the instrument cluster in a junkyard somewhere, at which point I can get the shop to replace it.

GAH! This will certainly interfere with my ability to sell the car when it finally gives out on me. Maybe I should write this off as a loss and just continue to drive the thing until it completely falls apart, then junk it instead of trying to sell (I imagine that most dealers would frown on a non-working odometer in a trade-in).

Time to start making phone calls to junkyards.....

edit: Thank you, Internets...with a quick Google search, I found a Mustang specialist not far from where I used to live in Atlanta who has three, count 'em, three instrument clusters for a '98 GT. And they wanted $160 total, including shipping directly to the repair shop. Now isn't THAT a nice surprise. I guess it's a good thing to have a popular and frequently-modded car!

-- END OF LINE --

[[The Oracle would like to know if you believe in spooks.]]

Comments

[mpceccato.livejournal.com]

Good to know them internets are good for somethin'.

I have to go shopping for laundry detergent now.

[themouseshouse.livejournal.com]

Holy cow. I have a 97 Mustang and had the *same* issue 2 years ago. Ended up having to replace the instrument cluster as well. They ended up getting a part from a junkyard for me. Seems the gears that drive the odometer, spedometer, etc are made of plastic and the teeth break off. Love my Mustang tho :)

Now I just need to get the power seat fixed... Seems it no longer wants to move forward, which is a problem when you drive a manual transmission. I'm short and if any one moves the seat I can't reach the clutch!

[foxmagic.livejournal.com]

My odometer stopped working in the same way back in 2005. I found a place that sold me a replacement gear for $25, and I fixed the problem myself! It's been good ever since. :)

I no longer have the link for the site from which I got the gear, but I remember they had replacement gears for the odometers in a wide array of cars and trucks.

[mydeepbluesea.livejournal.com]

My car's e-brake decided to fail, roll out of my parking lot, through a grove of trees, across a street (miraculously not hitting anyone), and into the cement steps of an apartment building next door. I hate cars. Yours sounds much easier to repair than mine. ;)

And yes, Oracle, I believe in all spooks.

[verdragon.livejournal.com]

Spooks as in the ghosts or the CIA?!